No vacuum excels at all types of cleaning— your home’s layout and even décor dictate the type you might need. That will become clear as you get ready for a thorough spring cleaning. Do you have lots of carpet or just bare floors? And it will be especially apparent if you have pets that are leaving little reminders of their winter coats everywhere you look.They’re a vacuum’s toughest job and rank highest on many people’s priority lists. Dirt tends to collect and hide in the carpet, and our feet can grind it in. The better bagged uprights, with beefy motors and wide brush rolls, clean the most deeply. But you want them to be maneuverable as well. In our tests, no bagged vacuum that was superb at deep-cleaning carpets was especially easy to handle, but five of the top bagged-upright models we recommend weigh less than 20 pounds. One of the lower-cost picks in our Ratings worth a look: the $150 Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Pet UH30310. It gets superb marks for pet-hair pickup and has a manual adjustment for carpet height.

At 17 pounds, it’s also light enough to maneuver easily. If you have few carpets and lots of tile, bare wood, or vinyl flooring, you can get a bagless upright—say, the $260 Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away NV501—and enjoy easy handling in a lighter-weight vacuum. Replacement Parts For Ge Single Serve BlenderOther full-sized vacuums might do almost as well for carpets while excelling at bare floors, a relatively easy task.Chugs For Sale Cheap A heavy vacuum can be a true liability if you have stairs. Small Breed Puppies For Sale In Paducah KyThe better canisters, led by the bagged Miele S 8590 Marin, $1,000, are heavier than most uprights—but you’re mostly moving just the hose and power head, not the entire machine.

In addition to our vacuum cleaner Ratings, our brand-repair history lists the percentage of upright and canister vacuums that failed or had a problem that was unresolved. Sometimes you need just a light cleaning before guests show up. For that, see our recommended handheld and stick vacuums. None of them can handle carpet deep cleaning, but they do a decent job. Which vacuum for which task On average, these are the lowest-cost way to deep-clean carpets. Bagged models in particular can deep-clean carpets and rugs, and all offer a wide cleaning swath. Pulling, pushing, and carrying them can be hard, especially on stairs. For maximum airflow with both full-sized types, replace the bag or empty the bin before it’s completely filled. They’re superior for cleaning curtains, upholstery, and spots beneath furniture. Canisters are also easier on stairs because you move just the hose and powerhead. The top canisters are pricier than comparable uprights. When retracting the cord, routinely letting it snap can weaken the plug.

Slow down the motion during the last few feet. Quickly picking up dry surface litter anytime you don’t want to or cannot bend. Most don’t pick up as well as hand vacuums, their dirt bin is usually small, and most are noisy. Frequently clean or replace filters, and clean out dirt cup to prevent bacterial growth when using both hand and stick vacs. Light, quick surface cleaning on carpets and bare floors, especially in tight spots that you can’t reach with a stick vac. Some can handle pet hair on upholstery. Like stick vacuums, they don’t have much power compared with a full-sized vacuum. With cordless hand and stick vacs, charge the battery according to the owner’s manual for maximum product life. Top-rated: Kenmore Elite 31150, $350 CR Best Buy: Kenmore 31140, $200 Top-rated: Miele S 8590 Marin, $1,000 CR Best Buy: Panasonic MC-CG937, $330 Top-rated: Dyson DC59 Animal, $500 Top-rated: Shark Pet Perfect II SV780, $60

—Ed Perratore (@EdPerratore on Twitter) Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the February 2015 issue of Consumer Reports magazine. View and compare all Vacuum cleaners ratings. 2-Year Floor Care Protection Plan 1-Year Floor Care Protection Plan Sold by BanksVac Since 1956 and Fulfilled by Amazon. Panasonic MC-CG973 Power Head Canister Vacuum Cleaner, Dark BlueDetailsPANASONIC MC-V150M 3-Pack of Vacuum Bags FREE Shipping on orders over $49. DetailsPanasonic MC-V194H HEPA Filter, 1-Pack FREE Shipping on orders over $49. Buy "Panasonic MC-CG973 Power Head Canister Vacuum Clea...” from Amazon Warehouse Deals and save 20% off the $319.99 list price. Canister Vacuum Cleaner, 360 Degree Swivel Hose, Easy Grip Handle, On/Off on body, Bare Floor Switches on Handle, 24 Foot Power Cord with Cord Reel, 12 Amp Motor, 3 Stage HEPA Filtration System, Tools On-Board, 12" Nozzle 28.4 x 12.8 x 16.1 inches 27.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

#161,208 in Home and Kitchen (See Top 100 in Home and Kitchen) #98 in Home & Kitchen > Vacuums & Floor Care > Vacuums > Canister Vacuums Panasonic MC-CG917 "OptiFlow" Bag Canister Vacuum Cleaner - Corded Soniclean Galaxy 1150 Canister Vacuum Cleaner Electrolux Ergospace Bagged Canister Vacuum, EL4103A - Corded I searched and searched for this exact type of vacuum when I needed to purchase. However, i could not find this 'proper' power head canister vacuum and had to settle for another... I will never have a vacuum that follows again. It keeps hitting the walls and pulling the power chord out of the wall. Plus it does not stand upright when you stop for a second.This is the second one I've bought. First one lasted 7 years. Bulky and suction is a bit poor for the hard floor setting. OK product but for that kind of money , i have a mild case of buyers remorseThe suction is great taking much less time to do my vacuuming:) OK, I've had this vac for a few months and I finally have learned it's functions better.